High Environment Council's Directives Raise Controversy

During a High Council for Environment's session last week presided over by President Hassan Rouhani, the borders of protected areas were revised but the alterations have drawn the ire of the environmental community. 
The meeting had two items on the agenda: to study and approve the status of 11 protected zones and revise the borders of 28 others. 
The 11 zones had been designated as such during past administrations without the council's approval. Following the request of the General Inspectorate Organization of Iran, the council reviewed the cases in last week's session and issued an official license, the official website of the Department of Environment reported.